Hashim Amla on Saturday broke Indian captain Virat Kohli's record to become the fastest to reach the milestone of 27 ODI centuries. Amla slammed 108 runs off 120 deliveries in the first ODI against Pakistan at St George's Park in Porth Elizabeth. However, his efforts went in vain as Pakistan won the game by five wickets.

Amla steadily paced his innings and played cautiously throughout his 108-run knock to overhaul Kohli's record. It took Amla 167 innings to score 27th ODI hundred while Kohli had achieved the milestone in his 169th innings in the first ODI against England on 15 January 2017 in Pune. Amla took a couple of innings fewer than Kohli to own the record.

One of the most consistent batsmen of the modern era, Amla has been a mainstay in South Africa's batting line-up for years now. He was not at his finest against Sarfraz Ahmed & Co in the first ODI but managed to score another century to help his side post a challenging total. Amla's 108-run knock was laced with seven boundaries and a six.

Batting first South Africa managed to post 266/2 on the board in fifty overs with the help of Amla's 108 and Rassie van der Dussen's 93 off 101 deliveries. Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan picked up a wicket apiece for Pakistan. In reply, Pakistan chased down the target with five balls to spare.

courtesy : timesnownews.com

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Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has released new guidelines aimed at ensuring a more environmentally conscious celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi this year.

BBMP Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao chaired a meeting to discuss a complete prohibition on the use of chemical paints, thermocol, and Plaster of Paris (PoP) in idol-making, as reported by Deccan Herald on Thursday. Any idols made from these materials will be confiscated and disposed of in accordance with established regulations.

The meeting emphasised the importance of using eco-friendly Ganesha idols made from natural clay, which are both safer for the environment and easier to immerse.

Strict enforcement and legal action
Criminal cases will be filed against individuals found creating idols using the banned materials. To ensure compliance, nodal officers from BBMP sub-divisions, along with officials from the police, fire, and Bescom departments, will oversee the manufacturing and sale of these idols.

Streamlined permitting process for public installations
For those wishing to set up public Ganesha idols, the BBMP has introduced a streamlined system to simplify the approval process. Citizens will need to apply at the offices of assistant executive engineers, designated as nodal officers, at the sub-divisional level. In an effort to expedite permissions, 75 single-window centres will be set up at these sub-divisional offices, where officers from the BBMP, police, Bescom, and the fire department will be available to grant necessary approvals.

Encouraging sustainable practices during the festival
The BBMP's guidelines also encourage residents to immerse small, eco-friendly idols at home and reuse the residual clay for gardening. Additionally, any wet waste generated during the festival will be processed through BBMP's waste management units, ensuring minimal environmental impact.